Wind and water motor.



' Pat ented Jan. 9, I900. R. E. HARDAWAY.

No. 640,901. Pdtehted Ian. 9, I900.

n. E. YHARDAWAY.

WIND AND WATER MOTOR.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1898.) (No Model.)

2 SheetsSheet 2.

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ROBERT EARLY HARDAWAY, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

WIND AND WATER MOTOR.

SIPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 640,901, dated January9, 1900.

Application filed March 5, 1898. Serial No. 672,677. (No model.)

To ztZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT EARLY HARD- AWAY, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing improve the construction of. windmills, more especiallythat shown and described in Letters Patent No. 588,572, granted to meAugust 24,1897, and to increase the efficiency and durability of thesame and lessen the cost of construction.

Another object of the invent-ion is to provide a construction whichbesides being adapted to be operated by the wind will be capable of usein tidal rivers, streams, and other currents.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is avertical sectional View of a windmillconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailsectional view of the lower bearing of the wind-wheel shaft. Fig. 4 isanenlarged detail viewillustrating the construction. of one oftheintermediate bearings of the wind-wheel shaft and illustrating theconstruction for throwing the wind-wheels in and out of gear. Fig. 5 isa detail view showing the wind-wheel shaft provided with a crank.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings.

1 designates a vertical wind-Wheel shaft having its lower end 2 steppedin a bearingcasing 3, provided with a circula'rball race or channel 4.,receiving a series of antifrictionballs 5, which support a bearing-disk6. The bearing-casing 3 consists of a horizontal bottom plate providedwith a central socket to receive the lower end 2 of the wind-wheelshaft, a horizontaltop plate, and vertical side 'ing-surface for thetops of the balls.

walls, and the said casing is provided with an outwardly-extendinghorizontal flange 7, which is perforated for the reception of suit able,fastening devices for securing the bearing-casing 3 in position.

The lower end 2 of the wind-wheel shaft is reduced to receive thebearing-disk 6, which fits against the shoulder formed by such reductionand is adapted to support the lower end of the wind-wheel shaft abovethe bottom of the central socket of the bearing-casing 3. The annularball-race 4 of the bearing-casin g 3 may be constructed in any suitablemanner and-consists of vertical walls and a convex bottom, and thebearing-disk 6 is provided at 1 its lower face with a convex ring 8,secured in a recess of the disk 6 and forming a bear- The casing 3 isprovided at one side with an oilhole located above the annular ball-raceand adapted to permit the same to be readily supplied With oil.

The wind-wheel shaft,which may taper from top to bottom,passes throughabearing-sleeve 9, located at the top of the casing 3 and extendingdownward through a central opening of the same and provided with ahorizontal flange 10, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the top ofthe bearing-casing 3. The sleeve 10, which forms a journal-box, iscomposed of two sections detachably secured together,

and a lining 11, of brass or other suitable metal, is arranged withinthe sleeve 9. By constructing the bearing-sleeve in two sections it maybe readily removed for renewal, repair, or adjustment. The top of thebearing-sleeve is provided with an oil-recess 12 and has a cover or lid13 for the same. The cover may be hinged or it may be pivoted andarranged to rotate horizontally to open and close it.

The upper end of the Wind-Wheel shaft is journaled in a bearing 14. of acasing mounted on a frame consisting of a platform 15 and asupporting-framework 16, suitably trussed and braced by rods 17.

The casing 18, which receives and surrounds a wind-wheel 19, is mountedupon the platform of the supporting-frame and consists of verticalpartitions 20 and 21, diverging outwardly and composed of sectionsconnected by horizontal partitions 22, the top horizontal partitionsforming a roof and being sloped or inclined downward from the center.The horizontal partitions 22 divide the easing into a series of storiesor compartments, and a vertical series of wind-Wheels is employed. Thevertical series of horizontal wind-wheels, which are provided with legs23, correspond to the compartments or stories of the casing, and thewind-wheels of the series are coupled together detachably,by meanshereinafter described, in order that one or more of the windwheels maybe operated at a time, according to the amount of power required. Thevertical and horizontal partitions are connected together by L-shapedplates or knees 24, the flanges of which are suitably secured to thepartitions, and the vertical partitions are supported at intervalsbetween the horizontal partitions by horizontal tie-bars 25, secured tothe vertical partitions by L-shaped plates or knees and extending aroundthe casin g and forming annular braces, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 ofthe accompanying drawings. One or more annular series of braces may beemployed, according to the size of the windmill.

The vertical partitions, which converge toward the vertical series ofwind-wheels, are disposed substantially tangential with relation to thesame, and they are adapted to constrict and compress the air graduallyas it approaches the wind-wheels, and thereby increase the force of thewind and enable considerable power to be obtained from a comparativelylight wind. They enable the casing to receive the wind from any quarter,and while they concentrate the force of the wind at one side of thewind-wheels they serve as shields to protect the other side of the sameand prevent the blades from being retarded as they come into the wind.

The vertical partitions 21, which are narrower than the partitions 20,divide the spaces between the latter, and the wider partitions 20 extendfrom the outer periphery of the horizontal partitions to inner circularbraces 26, which are composed of semicircular sections arranged in pairsto form a complete ring and secured to the vertical partitions 20 byL-shaped plates or knees 26 and 26 The blades of each wind-wheelcorrespond in length to the height of the compartment or stories of thecasing, and they are connected to the sections of the wind-wheelshaft byhorizontal disks or plates 27 and 29 and to each other by bottom plates28, which have a central opening-substantially equal to the diameters ofthe plates or disks 29. The plates 27, which are arranged at the top ofthe windwheel sections, extend entirely across the ends of the sectionsfrom the outer edges of the blades to the wind-wheel shaft, and theintermediate plates extend from the inner edges of the blades to thewind-wheel shaft and are located at points intermediate of the ends ofthe blades, being secured to the windwheel shaft by flanged collars 30,bolted to the plates or disks, and fastened to the windwheel shaft bykeys, clampingscrews, or other suitable fastening devices. The topplates are also secured to the wind-wheel shaft by collars 30, and theplates 27 and 28 are designed to be arranged to run as close as possibleto thenon-revolving or fixed parts above and below them. The blades aresupported at their outer edges at points opposite the intermediateplates 29 by annular braces 31, consisting of semicircular bars arrangedin pairs in slots of the plates and secured to the latter by L-shapedknees or plates. The curve of the blades 23 preferably consists of anarc of ninety degrees; but any other preferred curve may be employed.The curve shown, however, is deemed the most advantageous, as it hasbeen found to produce a maximum power, and the wind exerts a pressure onthe blades both in entering and leaving the wind-wheel. The inner andouter edges of the vertical partitions and the outer edges of thehorizontal partitions are beveled, as shown, to avoid retarding thewind. The outer edges are oppositely beveled in order to afford noobstruction to air passing to either'side of them, and the inner edgesof the vertical partitions are provided with a single long bevel.

The wind-wheel shaft is supported at the top and at intermediate pointsby bearings consisting of a bearing-casing 32, provided with a centralopening to receive the vertical shaft 1, and havingoutwardly-extendinghorizontal flanges 33, which are bolted or otherwisesecured to the horizontal partitions 22 at the top and bottom of thecompartments of the casing, the partitions 22 being strengthened byannular reinforcing-plates 34, ar-

ranged around the bearing-casing 32 and provided with a central openingto receive the same. The central opening 35 of the bearing-casing islined with brass or other suitable metal, and an oil-recess 36 isarranged at the top of the central opening 35, oil being fed to therecess 36 through an oil hole or passage 37 of a convex bearing disk orplate 38. The bearing disk or plate 38, which is constructed similar tothe bearing disk or plate 8 of the bottom bearing, is secured to .theshaft 1 by clampingscrews 39 or other suitable fastenin g devices, andis supported upon an annular series of antifriction-balls 40, arrangedin an annular channel or race 41, similar to that heretofore described.The bearing-disk or plate 38 is provided at its lower face with abearing-rin g 42 to engage the tops of the balls, and the bearing issupplied with oil by means of an oil-hole extending through the bearingdisk or plate 38 and the bearingring 42.

Each wind-wheel is mounted on a section 1 of the wind-wheel shaft, andsections of the wind-Wheel shaft are coupled together by a clutch 43,composed of upper and lower sections 44 and 45 and provided at theiradjacent ends with interlocking lugs or flanges 46 and 47. The lowersection 45 of the clutch is fixed to the upper end of one of thesections of the wind-wheel shaft by clampingscrews or other suitablefastening devices, and the upper or sliding section 44 of the clutch isconnected with its section of the wind-wheel shaft by keys 48, arrangedin slots of the sliding clutch-section and engaging grooves 49 of thewind-wheel shaft, and the said keys, which are detachabl y securedwithin the slots by plates 50, are located at different elevations inorder to avoid the weakening effect which would result from arrangingthe slots and the grooves at the same point.

The clutch is operated by a lever 51, fulcrumed between its ends in asuitable bearing of the reinforcing-plate 34 and having its armsarranged at a slight angle to each other. The inner arm is provided witha forked portion 52, curved to conform to the configuration of theclutch-section 44 and. engaging the same beneath a horizontal annularflange 53. The outer end of the lever is connected by a rope or cable 54with a Windlass or other suitable device for enabling the clutch to beoperated from the base of the windmill in an engineers room or the like.The rope or cable 54 passes through perforationsof the horizontalpartitions of the casing, the shifting-lever being of sufficient lengthto locate the rope or cable 54 beyond the blades of the wind-wheel, andby means of the clutches one or more of the wind-wheels may be used at atime, according to the amount of power desired from the windmill.

The sections of the wind-wheel shaft are supported slightly out ofcontact with each other, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanyingdrawings, and the sliding section 44 of the clutch is provided with anoil-hole 55, communicating with a space between the sections of thewind-wheel shaft.

The vertical partitions 20 of the casiu g of the windmill are providedwith inner and outer horizontal swinging doors 56 and 57, which arecontrolled and held normally closed by weights 58 and 59, attached tothe lower ends of cords 60 and 61 or other flexible connections, whichpass over suitable guide-pulleys and which are connected at their upperterminals to the adjacent edges of the doors. Each cord passes over avertical guide-pulley 62 and is arranged between a pair of horizontalguide-pulleys 63, located at opposite sides of the partition and adaptedto receive the cord when the door opens in either direction. Should thepressure of the air exceed the power of the weights, the doors will beautomatically opened to reduce the pressure, and by regulating theweights any normal power of the windmill may be obtained.

The inner doors are hinged at their inner vertical edges, and when it isdesired to exclude air entirely from the wind-wheel the doors are swungtransversely of the spaces between the partitions to the positionillustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawingsbymeans of an operating wire or cable 64, connected at one end to one ofthe inner doors, near the free edge thereof, at a point below thepulleys and extending horizontally around the outer edges of all of theother swinging doors, which are preferably provided with perforationshaving metallic linings. These doors may also be provided, if desired,with pulleys for the operating wire or cable 64. The wire or cable afterpassing through the perforations of the inner doors extends inward overguide-pulleys 65,

and downward at a point just inside of the annular series of doors tothe base of the windmill, to be connected with a Windlass or othersuitable device for swinging the doors across the spaces between thevertical partiwind-wheel to the wind to start the windmill.

The operating wires or cables are designed to be arranged so that one ormore of the windwheels may be exposed to the wind, and by means of theoperating wires-or cables and the clutches of the wind-wheel shaft thewind-wheel may be readily adjusted to suit the character of the machineto be operated by it.

The narrow vertical partitions v21 may be provided with doors 66,similar to the outer doors 57 of the vertical partitions 20; but thesedoors 57 and 66 may be employed or omitted, as desired.

The casing and the supporting-frame may be constructed of any suitablematerial, such as wood and metal, and, if desired, canvas or other heavyfabric or analogous material may be used in constructing the verticaland horizontal partitions, metal framing being designed to be used withsuch material. For

' greater strength the horizontal and vertical studding between planksand the windmill may also be provided with a steep roof, with a space tooperate the machine at the top of the shaft under the roof.

Small windmills may be placed on the tops of dwellings and buildings forhousehold service and ornament in the shape of an observatory. For smallwindmills simpler and cheaper fastenings and bearings may be used, ascleats and nails, and for economy in the first cost ball-bearings may beomitted, ringbearings being used to carry the weight of the wheel. Theproportions of the wind-wheel and the casing may be varied according tothe cost of the material employed and to the character of the winds atthe place where the windmill is to be erected, local material beingpreferably employed in the construction of the windmill.

The lower section of the wind-wheel shaft carries a pulley 69, adaptedto receive a belt,

by means of which motion may be readily transmitted to any ordinarymachinery; but, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings, acrank and pitman '71 may be employed. Also instead of arranging thecrank at a point between the ends of the wind-wheel shaft it may bereadily located at the lower end, and an eccentric or any other form ofgearing may be employed for transmitting motion from the wind-wheelshaft to the devices to be operated.

The invention has the following advantages: The windmill, which isstrong and durable, may be constructed with any number of stories orsections of the casing and the wind-wheel, and as the wind-wheels aredetachably coupled together and the inner doors of the various storiesor compartments of the casing are independently operated one or morewind wheels may be used at a time, and the windmill is thereby readilyadapted to afiord any power within its capacity, and is capable of beingreadily adjusted to suit the character of the machinery to be operatedand the work to be done. The mill may be partly or entirely submerged ina current of a tidal river or any other stream, and when so employed thegearing for transmitting motion from the wheel to the machinery to beoperated will be arranged to suit the disposition of the mill.

The construction of the wheel and casing shown and described is adaptedfor use in water, and when so employed the bottom or lowermost floor ofthe casing will be securely bolted or otherwise secured to rock or pilefoundation. The machine to be operated by the motor will be locatedabove the latter in a room or building arranged above high-water mark.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of this invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a device of the class described, the combinationof a vertical series of wheels, a casing surrounding the wheels andcomprising vertical partitions extending outward from the wheel, andhorizontal partitions dividing the easing into stories or compartmentscorresponding to the wheels, a series of doors arranged in each of thestories or compartments,independently-operated clutches coupling thewheels, and means for operating each series of doors independently ofthe other series,whereby one or more of the wheels may be exposed to acurrent of wind or water, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a wheel, acasing composed of vertical partitions and horizontal partitionsdividing the casing into compartments or stories, a series of doorsarranged in each of the stories or compartments and adapted to swingacross the spaces between the vertical partitions to shut off the windfrom the wheel, and operating wires or cables passing around the wheeland connected with the free edges of the doors and adapted to swing thesame across the spaces between the partitions, said wires or cablesbeing independently operated, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a vertical series of wheels, a series of clutchesconnecting the wheels, each clutch being composed of a fixed member andsliding members, shifting-levers connected with the sliding members ofthe clutches and provided with operating wires or cables, a casingsurrounding the wheels and provided with vertical partitions extendingoutward from the same, hinged doors mounted on the partitions andarranged to swing across the spaces between the same,means for holdingthe doors normally closed, and operating wires or cables connected withthe doors and arranged to swing the same across the spaces between thevertical partitions,substantially as described.

4. In a motor of the class described, the combination of a verticalshaft, a horizontal wheel comprising vertical blades having their inneredges spaced from the shaft, intermedi ate plates extending from theshaft to the inner edges of the blades, a top plate secured to the shaftand connected with the adjacent ends of the blades, and a bottom platecon necting the lower ends of the blades and disconnected from theshaft, and a casing surrounding the wheel and having an annular seriesof partitions extending therefrom, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casinghaving an annular series of partitions extending outward from thecentral portion of the casing, a vertical shaft,a vertical series ofwind-wheels mounted upon the shaft and having their blades separatedtherefrom by an intervening space open at the bottom, and couplingslocated at the bottoms of the wind-wheels in the said space, and meansfor operating the couplings,whereby one or more wind-wheels may be used,substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a verticalshaft, a vertical series of wind-wheels having annular series of bladesarranged around the shaft and separated therefrom by an interveningspace,couplings arranged within the said space, and means for operatingthe couplings whereby one or more of the wind-wheels may be used,substantially as described.

7. In a motor of the class described, the combination with the casing,of a vertical Wheel-shaft consisting of a series of alined sections, aseparate wheel mounted on each shaft-section,a bearingsuspending eachshaftsection from its upper end, clutches separably coupling togetherthe shaftsections, and means for operating each clutch independently ofthe others, substantially as set forth.

8. In a motor of the class described, the In testimony that I claim theforegoing as combination with the casing, of a vertical my own I havehereto affixed my signature in wheel-shaft consisting of aplurality ofalined the presence of two witnesses.

sections, a separate wheel mounted on each ROBERT EARLY HARDAWAY.shaft-section, and a bearing suspending, each Witnesses:

shaft-section from its upper end,substantia1ly SUTTON SELWYN SCOTT, asset forth. ROBERT ANDERSON HARDAWAY.

